OnSugar Blog: What Is Your Job as a Parent?

We have many jobs as parents. We are teachers. We are cooks. We are chauffeurs. We are playmates. We are housekeepers. We are (sometimes) friends. But we are parents. And I believe that we have one job. Simply put, our one job is to foster our child's self esteem. How can we do this? I can answer this one. I hope for my child what every parent hopes. I hope they are fulfilled. I hope they are loved and give love. I hope they are happy. I hope they are productive members of society and feel the value of achievement. I hope they make a mark in their little world. I spend most of my days hoping for different things. Smaller things. I hope my Reagan gets dressed without demanding tights and a dress. I hope the struggle to get Whitney's boots on only takes 2 minutes and does not end in injury. I hope both of my children eat the first meal I put in front of them. I hope we don't run out of chocolate milk AGAIN. But this blog allows me to think about what I really want for my children. So instead, I will hope for things that will contribute to their self esteem.To see the rest of this post, read more.

I hope that I won't yell. Even if they deserve it. And I will never hit.

I hope I am patient. My job is to teach them calmly, deliberately and redirect bad behaviors.

I hope that I tell them every day how much they mean to me. Because they are my world.

I hope to teach them that they don't have to be perfect to feel good about themselves.

I hope to show them how awesome it feels to be a smart and educated girl/woman with a strong head on her shoulders.

I hope to help them feel good about their bodies by being a good role model for them. (I have to do a lot of work for this one!)

I hope that they know that family means unconditional love. Period.

I hope to show them that a happy marriage makes 2 people greater than the sum of their parts.

I hope that in my journey to find happiness they can see what it is like to enjoy being in the moment.